Aerial Photography:

Tile Lines

Imagery can be helpful in locating tile lines and determining whether there’s a need for additional drainage in farm fields. Lighter areas in the photo show the location of tile in this field.

Machinery Patterns

The lighter colored vertical bars in this image are a result of forgetting to turn on an anhydrous applicator after turning around or crossing a waterway.

Down Corn

The field in this image was hit by high winds. Lighter areas in the field are down corn. Georeferenced images like this can allow you to calculate an approximate percentage of the field that has been damaged, helping to estimate yield loss and substantiate crop insurance claims.

Anhydrous Errors

In this image, the lighter colored vertical streaks were a result of a plugged outside knife or driving too wide with an anhydrous applicator. Note that there are also visible traffic patterns in the field that run at an angle to the rows.

For those considering or just beginning to use imagery in their crop production management, see the 2010 On-Farm Network Conference presentation by noted remote sensing authority Dr. Randy Pearson, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. This can be found at http://iasoy.us/Zkh. Dr. Pearson is among the speakers expected to be at the Iowa Soybean Association On-Farm Network Conference February 16 in Ames. Check www.isafarmnet.com for conference details.

Next Issue’s Tools: Developing a logo/brand for your farm’s identity